New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-20
MRS. JAMES BROWN POTTER.
DETAILS CONCERNING HER PREPARATION
FOR THE STAGE.

HER RRw-YORK DEBUT TO DE EFFECTED NhAi
AUTUMS-TRIBUTEs FROM HER EMINENT TEACH
ERs-HER FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PRINCE
AND PRINCESS OF wALEs-HER HOME
AND HER STUDIES.
IBY CABLE TRIBUNE.]
LONDON Feb 19-An answer may al last be gwen
to the question SO often asked in New-YTk ana
London during the year past, whether Mrs. james
Brown Potter is going the stage. This question mas
at various times been answered. now aihrma'i'e'y'
now negatively but always conjecturally. am no"
at liberty 10 say on The authority OF Mrs. Potter her
SELF whom have this week in Pans, ana Win ner
approval that she has definitely resolved on adopting
the of professioh actress Her reasons ioF
this step matters with which the pnbiic ordihhrhy
would have concern, but Mrs Potters pos'ioh 10
such that they have already been publicly diScusscu
and are sure to be discussed again. They or some OF
them may as WE'LL therefore. be stated before explain
ing her prepar and plans for her new career IL
may be admitted that her husbands family, though
not her husband himself are strongly opposed 10 her
course and they hav taken that their opposuon
should be known in Ncw-Yors and elsewhere. Inc
grounds of it obvious. An Episcopal family OF hieh
socia rank must be expected to entet tain peIudees
.gsinst the stage, which nevertheless is as much
profession "a the Church itself. The family IS
wealthy, but its wealth is uncquay distributed. and
Mrs. Potter found herself compelled choose between
two alternatives She might yield to the persuasions
OF the Potter family, with something like poverty De-
fore her as permanent rev ard she might follow
her own inclinstons with every prospect OF an ample
and independent income won by her own exertlons
So much the worldly point Of view. Whst
weighed, / ina ine more strongly with her was her
natural aud perhaps irresistible bent toward art She
has love OF the drama which may be called passion
ate. She has long studied the theatre though Without
a settled intention OF acting She felt II TO be her
vocation and thought life would be empty without H.
She has the feeling for dramatic art that poet
has for poetry Sne has post her decision out OF
Difference the Potter famys opposition but at last
she finds nature stronger than the arguments OF her
husbands relations. Perhaps they may presently see
reason to doubt whether personal feelings ought to
stand between tho public and IN artist willing TO
share her In sirations with the public 1t right to
add that her own tamiy-her own father and mother
and other rela,ives-entirey approve OF her present
resolve, and the doors Of The American Legation at
Paris are wide open ever. The American Minis
ter there, Mr.. McI.ane, is Mrs. Potters cousin.
Her final olive has been taken within the last few
days, but only after fu consultation with her r ends
after much study and experience at home and after
winters instruction by OF tho best actresses ana
teachers in Paris. When Mrs. Potter lett New-fork
last autumn her plan study for the stage leav-
ing the question open whether to adopt IL IA probes
sion or not perhaps meaning 10 DO guided ny tho
opinion OF her teachers Studying with the best actors
and actresses In PARIS is easy matter They will not
give lessons help OF any kind except TO pupils who
seem likely to do credit to them. One eminent Ameri-
can actress has discovered this by experience. Her
appl cations refused after hearing her read MI
Potter was more fortunate She has read studied and
worked during the whole winter with Madame
Arnould Plessy, Nine Bar;in Nine. slmary and
Laurent is actress in the style OF piece known at
Paris as drame noir something between mcOdraIna
and tragedy Nine. Samary Is great fayortte ut the
Theatre Francois, where she renders the lighter,
laugh ng parts delightful little plays of kind UNI
known on the English stage. Mines. Samary and Laur
ent thus represent the extremes OF art and both have
cordially given Mrs. Potter their best services. Nine
Arnould Pessy lie perhaps the last and certainly the
most distinguished representative OF tho grand school
of French acting. While societarc at tine Theatre
Francai. abe had no rival and hen che retired she
left 10 successor From the first interview sue became
intere-ted in Mrs. Potter and offered her every
assistance aud advice, and explained to hor the whole
scbeme and theory of the art You have" said Nine.
plessv the true temperament OF artist. What you
Ike every real actress learn TO do Is not TO learn
10 play this or that character but you must learn Id
coiueaie as an art and as whole. study general
principles aud general methods." Nine. Plcssy 3
method was to take certain plays which delneae each
some master passion: Androuialue. the love OF a
,other for her child Pbedrc, love in the sen,o OF
p.y.ion; and Camille " In Les Horaccs ~ tho
ideal of pure love All these were RhchePs parts and
Nine Pessy IL the possessor OF all the stage traditions
relating TO Rachel and all her stage business Then
they passed to light comedy-such characters as
C.limcnep the coluette in Moliere's" MIsanhrope
then 10 modern comedy: Dona Sol " in - Hermann
and Others "Whcn you have once mastered the
entire series" said Nine. Pessy, you viii have the
meane of PLAY ing rightly all parts' She recommended
Nine Bartet 10 Mrs. Potter Nine. Barrett Is now
nj he Theatre fraDcais, j
her PLAY in Dumas's sparkling new comedy Franeil-
Ion a piece OF acting withou; q haw charming
sympatheiio and true throughout Nine. Bartet,
said Niue. Plessy to Mrs. Potter, Will teach you
nothing wrong. She has mannerisms, Is perfect IN
stage trad IONS and has reason for everything she
docs She takes no pupils but II she sees something
IA you she may help you" Nine. Bartet did see the
rcquirte something, aud has been untiring IN her
interest 4" cannot give you lessons, she SAID, OUT
we will have DIES conferences artstiques together
So they conferred "Ruy Bias" and other typical
CLAWS and went together through tho stage business
and technique. Nine. Bartets friendly teaching
covered both local and plastic art including GESTURE
entrance aud exits all which, moreover there are
separate teachers
Nine. Barrett with whom / talked MAKES no
secret OF her belief in Mrs. Potter saying Ee tout
n fat allure d une vrae coincidence she mas
adds Nine Bartet besides this unmistakablc stamp
and style OF the genuine actress, yolco whioh 10
treasure ard lace which with oil its beautiful eA'
preston OF candor aud simplicity Is capaoie OF cnV
ton yes, OF tragedy" Nine. Peosy's testimony is
not less decisive. "Adrienne Lccouvrour, sao sue,
| air n role which includes several roles In ono.
| think Mrs Potter an ideal Adrienne Lecouvreur.
The last opinion will cite is that OF NJ Delaunay. oy
common consent the most finished OF French actors
and for more than generation the ornament OF INC
Theatre Francais where his opinion was law III Things
concerning dramatic art Mrs Potter has ooen
ing and acting to NJ Delaunuy, IN: this is bis verdiet
81 Madame Potter has every quality for the Stage.
Nature has done everything for her. Sho ha, in'ei
gence and perseverance that are certain to Drhs nc'
SUCCESS"
heard may other interesting details but tis may
serye AS a sketch of the serious study to whion our
cop.,fvwoman has been devo,ing herself, and oil the
impression she has made some Of the best
| now living. You know something already OF INC ~
terest Mira Potter excited In London last SUI, incl